FOOTBALL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2466, 2 April 1909, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

MEETING OF PLAYERS—DISTRICT SCHEME ABOLISHED. There was a fairly large attendance of footballers and enthusiasts at a special meeting held in the Masonic Hotel last night to consider the question of abolishing the district scheme, at present existing in Poverty Bay. Mr. H. E. Maude, in explaining the object of the meeting, said that he wished, on behalf of the Rugby Union, to remove any apprehension that appeared to exist that the Union intended to 4 ut erf ere with Thursday football.' The mid-week football was in a much mere healthy condition than Saturday football, and it was not the intention of the Union to interfere with it in any way. Continuing, the chairman referred to the fact that last season there were only three- senior teams playing in this large district, and only two of these could be depended upon to put a team in the field every week. He was strongly of opinion that the time, had come for a change. In days gone past, before the district scheme was introduced) they had four senior teams of good strength, and in full swing. In conclusion, the speaker referred to the breaking of old associations in reverting agaui to the club scheme, but said lie was quite sure that it would be in the best interests of football in Poverty Bay. He moved that it be a recommendation from the meeting to the Union that the district scheme be abolMr. J. S. Wanchop seconded the motion. He referred to the unsatisfactory state of football under the district scheme, with the boundaries as they are at present constituted. Hie suggested that the scheme in force in Taranaki would be a suitable one for Poverty Bay, and explained that in that province the clubs in the northern distnct had a competition of'tlieir own, as also had the clubs in the southern district. Then at the end of the season the winning clubs in each district met each other to decide the championship, province. He thought that the scheme would be workable here* by having a country competition and a town competition, which would not alone ter for the seniors hut would also be of inestimable advantage in the. wav <n bringing out-the juniors, as then there won lid be an opportunity for more senior teams. . : . ■ Some discussion followed, the majoi--ity off-the speakers being in favor or the proposed change. ' . The motion on being put to the meet-

ing was carried, there being only three dissentients. At the conclusion of the general meeting a short meeting of the Management Committee of the llughy Union was held, when the recommendation of the earlier meeting to abolish the district scheme was adopted.